Influence of Social Media on the Academic Performance of the Undergraduate Students of Kogi State University, Anyigba, Nigeria

The paper examines the influence of social media on the academic performance of the undergraduate students of Kogi State University. The rationale behind the study is to find out whether the exposure of the students to social media has effect on their academic performance. The paper is anchored on two theories; namely: social information processing theory and media equation theory. The survey research method was adopted, employing the questionnaire as an instrument of data collection. The findings show that undergraduate students of Kogi State University, Anyigba, Nigeria, have access to social media and that their exposure to social media is to a very great extent. Findings also show that exposure to social media has effect on the students and that the effect is negative. Findings also show that facebook is the most used social media by undergraduate students of Kogi State University. Based on the findings, the paper concludes that exposure to social media by the undergraduate students of Kogi State University has negative effect on their academic performance. To this end, the paper recommends that the students should pay minimal attention to social media and focus more on their academic activities.